In this study, I aim to point to the marginalised position of the female characters in the original Sherlock Holmes stories. I then examine the development of the female characters in two adaptations Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock, taking in consideration the cultural context affecting the adaptation of the characters. I concentrate on two female characters in particular; Mary Morstan and Irene Adler. I study how they are represented and portrayed, and subsequently, what ideals and attitudes those portrayals and representations reflect. I also analyse the position of the female characters more generally.

I conclude that the original Sherlock Holmes stories distinctly reflect patriarchal social structures. In Adventures of Sherlock Holmes the female characters’ position is deteriorated as a result of the prevailing ideals in the 1980s–1990s. Lastly, in Sherlock the female characters are more fully developed, although the means of developing might in some cases be ineffective or misguided. Nonetheless, the development of the female characters in the more modern adaptation helps undo the patriarchal structures reflected in the original canon.